5 Wheelchair-friendly City Breaks in Europe

If you fancy a trip to Europe this summer, these cities should be on your radar, because they’re the easiest to explore from the comfort of your Fenetic wheelchair. So take your pick and grab your passport…

If you fancy a trip to Europe this summer, these cities should be on your radar, because they’re the easiest to explore from the comfort of your Fenetic wheelchair. So take your pick and grab your passport…

Whether you’re a foodie, sun seeker or history buff, your mobility won’t stop you from enjoying these European cities, because they have made it their mission to become the most wheelchair friendly – helping travellers like you to hop on the bus or get down to the beach and into attractions as effortlessly as possible. And wheelchair accessibility isn’t all they have going for them, because they also happen to be some of the most desirable, culturally important cities in the world.

1. Barcelona, Spain

Tuck into tapas, admire Gaudi architecture and jump to the front of the queue for attractions like Spain’s iconic Sagrada Família cathedral. That’s right, Barcelona gives wheelchair users priority and free access to a slew of landmarks.

Every bus is wheelchair accessible, with ramps and lifts also helping you aboard Barcelona’s metro trains. But wouldn’t you rather roll the length of La Rambla instead? White sand beaches are just 15 minutes from this, one of Europe’s most famous streets – with wooden paths taking you straight from the pavement to the water’s edge. And if you feel particularly adventurous, you can rent a beach wheelchair to whisk you across the Mediterranean sand.

2. Ljubljana, Slovenia

Huge swathes of Slovenia’s flat capital are pedestrianised and leafy green. But wheelchair users and a companion can ride the train and Funicular for free, helping you around Ljubljana without catching a bus – which also has low step access. Cross the famous Butchers’ Bridge in your wheelchair to catch a boat down Ljubljanica River. Pay a visit to Ljubljana Castle, Ljubljana Zoo or the Central Market, the Museum of Contemporary History of Slovenia or the Cathedral of St Nicholas. You could have an action-packed city break indeed.

3. Vienna, Austria

For all the romance and Medieval history of Paris, in a more compact, flat and accessible city, visit Vienna in Austria. The city removed most of its cobblestones and kerbs, making your wheelchair ride that bit more comfortable – with huge pedestrian areas around St Stephan’s Cathedral and the Hofburg winter palace also ripe for exploring this summer. Vienna’s best museums and tourist hotspots are fully accessible, including the Schloss Schönbrunn, and to get to them, you could ride elevators down to Vienna’s metro system or catch a low floor tram, offering priority seats for wheelchair users.

4. Milan, Italy

See Da Vinci’s Last Supper in the flesh or head to Piazza del Duomo, Milan isn’t just one of Italy’s most wheelchair accessible cities, but Europe’s too – in fact, it won the Access City Award 2016, for accommodating wheelchair users.

5. Rotterdam, Netherlands

A trip to the most wheelchair accessible beach in the Netherlands should also be high on your list this summer, when you holiday in Rotterdam. Ride the wheelchair-friendly path to the high water mark or take advantage of free beach wheelchairs and walking aids. With accessible toilets nearby, you can really make a day of it. Alternatively, cruise along the paths in the famous Botanical Gardens or catch a bus to just about anywhere else in the city – almost all of Rotterdam’s bus stops are wheelchair accessible.